FATHER TUCKERForgiveness and fatherhood

Rev. Robert F. Tucker

Published 12:00 am, Friday, June 14, 2013

From God the Father, the Creator of all, who gave His breath to all of us to give us life we owe the first great sign of forgiveness! He sent His only Son to become a man like all of us except for sin to save us and to be the sign of forgiveness. To forgive is only half the matter the other side is to know the other has asked or desires forgiveness. God, the Father, did both.

Men and women down through the ages had awaited the Promised Messiah and yet when He came as a humble son of a carpenter, a man from Nazareth, he was not accepted or believed. He also had to ask the Father from His throne, the Wood of the Cross, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit who would be the great gift of forgiveness and peace and thus when we look at the mystery of the Trinity we see Forgiveness in Action.

All the Scripture readings of this weekend show the theme of forgiveness in action. From the second Book of Samuel, we hear about the adulterous sin of King David and his need to seek forgiveness. St. Paul in writing to the Galatians, and thus for all of us, states the point and purpose of Jesus Christ's life, who willingly gave Himself up for us and challenges us to live by and in the grace of God. The Gospel of Luke, chapter 7, wants us to know that those who forgive more love more! As Catholics, at Mass, we are praying for forgiveness from the opening to the closing Prayer. The Church wants us to be aware of our need to ask and seek forgiveness and as we trust God to forgive us- that we forgive others. That is covering the whole matter of forgiveness. As men and women to follow the path of forgiveness is to follow God in the right Way. God is our strength and power to forgive and forget and He alone can give us the grace to act in such a Way. Those who cannot forgive and forget break the bridge over which they themselves daily must pass!

During this week, take one person and forgive them, be they alive or dead. Also ask one person to forgive you. There are great advantages to forgiveness as it repairs hurts, dissatisfactions, dissensions and alienations that affect not only individuals but families and communities. It is not easy to admit we are wrong but we know, just looking in the mirror, we have so many faults. Our faults, like our wrinkles, we try to hide from, but they are right there around our very eyes. Light the way for forgiveness by asking or forgiving someone this week and placing that person more deeply in the love of God and in your loving heart, not in your hard heart. Do not be so smug as to not recognize and acknowledge your own faults or failings and their effect on others.

Prayer for Fathers

Dear Heavenly Father, in your love forgive me and my Dad all of our faults. Bless my Dad with peace, love, understanding and gentleness. Give him the energy to work and sustain his love and attention for Mom and for me and my siblings. He may not always be able to give or do as I desire, but I know in my heart he does his best. Give him your best graces, O heavenly Father and help me do my best. Amen.